I received some excellent teaching last night on doing good. As part of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore we are covering the fruits of the spirit. Kindness and goodness. Ladies, I highly recommend looking into this study, it is available online.
So what stuck out to me comes from Isaiah 58:6-11 particularily verse 10
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The idea of spending yourself. Actively doing good for another. The hungry, the oppressed is what the verse says but I believe the spectrum is vast. Wherever, whenever and however we can help someone else. The idea of helping others is not a new one. People have been meeting others needs for a long time. What Beth said was our culture perpetrates self-absorbtion. (No kidding) Depression is on the rise, it is showing up in believers and our young people. (Those who should be filled with hope.) The verse says if you spend yourself (on the behalf of others) you light will shine in the darkness. Could it be an antidote for depression. This idea of helping others, pouring ourselves out. I believe Beth has it right on for this one. Helping others takes the focus off of ourselves. Helping others feels good. Meeting needs are rewarding. It brings light to the darkness. She challenged us to get up, get out and help someone.
On the way home I asked DS what is something you can do for someone? He answered share my toys. I asked what about people we may not know, how could we help them? Share a token with them. (Chuck E Cheese) Interesting. DDs response was give candy. Their ideas were possesions, things. That is the tangible for them. I am hoping to broaden this idea for my kids. I want them to pour out for others. Giving their time, talents and possesions to benefit others. So any ideas?
2 comments:
Kaitlin has a Chicken Soup for Little Souls book about a little girl that goes with her grandfather to help out in the soup kitchen, handing out the puddings.
http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/filemanager/download/635/serlearn.pdf#search='service%20ideas%20with%20young%20children'
The above site has info on service with youth. The one below has oppurtunities for mid-michigan. Lots to sort through.
www.servenet.org
I think the first thing we are going to do is make a treat for the firemen around the corner from our house and draw pictures. A thank you for their hard work. DS wants to dress-up in his fireman outfit when we go.
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